The National Hurricane Center provided this map of Hurricane Jose’s most likely arrival time of tropical-storm-force winds with its 5 p.m. Sept. 15, 2017 update. Courtesy of the National Hurricane Center

The National Hurricane Center provided this map of Hurricane Jose’s most likely arrival time of tropical-storm-force winds with its 5 p.m. Sept. 15, 2017 update. Courtesy of the National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Jose appeared in line for a mid-Atlantic funeral as it pulled a U-turn earlier this week, but forecasts over recent days have moved the storm farther west.

The projected path as of Friday evening was closer to the East Coast than it was a few days ago – showing a chance Jose could parallel the Outer Banks and have a more direct impact on points farther north.

At 5 p.m. Friday, the National Hurricane Center said Jose regained hurricane status with 75 mph winds and is expected to stay that way into the middle of next week. With that comes a risk for swimmers and boaters on the Outer Banks.

Though no watches or warnings are in effect, the National Weather Service says some tropical storm watches might be necessary for parts of North Carolina’s coast.

The National Weather Service office in Morehead City warned Friday that strong rip currents are expected, especially about two hours either side of low tide, from Rodanthe south to Cape Lookout.

A small-craft advisory is up all along the North Carolina coast beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday and going into Tuesday, when Jose is expected to be off the N.C. coast.

Forercasters said they expect seas to build to 6 feet by Friday night and perhaps reach 11 feet, and there will be strong winds into next week.

Tropical Storm Jose is expected to get back to hurricane strength on Friday. It is is already bringing rip-current risks to the southern Outer Banks of North Carolina and is expected to bring seas up to 11 feet off the coast beginning Saturday. National Weather Service

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